Posted to the web 17 April 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
The allegation of visa racketeering, which stalled the vetting of Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Government Spokesperson on Social Services and Infrastructure, from the Evalue-Gwira primary on the ticket of her party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is far from ending as more evidence pops up against her.
Latest, is the sudden outburst of one Matilda Agyemang, a Ghanaian-based in the United States (US), who has jumped into the fray, to buttress the allegations made by Habakkuk Baffoe, of the University of Education, Winneba, who has launched a crushing exposé on the activities of the NPP stalwart.
Speaking to 'Radio Gold' morning show host, yesterday, Matilda narrated how she came into contact with Catherine, in the year 2005, when she (Catherine) was resident in the US.
According to Matilda, what made her enter into a deal with Catherine was when she convinced her that she could assist to procure the necessary documents for two of her siblings, to travel and join her in the US.
She noted that Catherine made her understand that she had connections with the US Embassy in Ghana hence it would be easy for her to procure visas for the two siblings.
After extensive discussions, she noted that they reached an agreement when Catherine asked her to pay an amount of $14,000, to enable her process the necessary documents, including visas.
The said the amount was to cover the entire traveling expenses for Matilda's brother and sister - a $7,000 fee for each person.
That notwithstanding, she said Catherine gave her only two hours to effect payment, which was done through the issuance of cheques, of which she claimed to be having copies.
Asked what made her have so much confidence in Catherine, to believe that she could help her bring her siblings to the US, Matilda said Catherine made her believe that she had been doing this for a long time, hence could do whatever it takes to get the two to the States.
According to Matilda, Catherine, thus gave her a time lapse of 6 months within which she would have completed all the necessary documents for her siblings to travel.
This, however, turned out to be a hoax, when after the stipulated time, Catherine could not deliver on her promise, and moved from the US to Ghana, with her husband.
Since then, she indicated, she had made several attempts to reclaim her money, but Catherine has not been forthcoming but rather dodgy.
Whenever she put a call through to Catherine's phone, she said, Catherine would promise to call her back, but not do so.
For now, all Matilda said she wanted was a refund of her $14,000, and nothing more.
She described Catherine Afeku as a liar, for denying owing her, let alone engage in any shady visa deals as being alleged.
"I'm not the only person; she took people's money, that's why she has run away to Ghana. As soon as I finish with mine, I will let the others come forward," she assured.
Matilda said she had documents to back her claims, since she kept copies of each and every one of the cheques, she issued to Catherine for withdrawal.
Matilda said when she came to Ghana three years ago, she reported the incident to the Axim Police, who managed to arrest Catherine's husband, one Seth Afeku, but could not arrest the wife.
Considering the nature of the case, Matilda said, she was advised to take the issue to a court, in either Accra or Kumasi, for the necessary action to be taken, to retrieve the money.
By that time, she noted, she only had three days to leave the country for the US, hence had no option but to leave.
For Matilda, such a person does not qualify to be a political figure in Ghana. She, therefore, called on the NPP to disqualify her nomination.
But Catherine still sticks to her position, that she has not defrauded anyone, and has asked those making the allegations, to prove her guilt by producing documentary evidence, to back their claims, or go to court.
According to her, both Michael and Samuel Nokor, who were said to have fallen prey to her visa deals, have all denied the allegations, expressing disappointment.
The vetting of Catherine Afeku was put on hold, by her party's Vetting Committee sometime last week, following a petition tabled by Habakkuk Baffoe.
In the said petition, dated April 6, 2008, Baffoe, who happens to be in the same political party, NPP, with Catherine, sought to ask the party officials to disqualify her candidature, since in his view, she and her husband had dragged the party's name into disrepute, through their alleged deals as 'visa contractors'.
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